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THE
CONQUEST OVER
DEATH.
DISC 1.
manner,
through
the
f
ear
of
death were
all
their
lJe-
time subject
to bondage
;
Heb.
But christianity
lays
a fair
and
rational foundation for
our confidence
and triumph
in
the dying
hour.
It
shews
how guilt
is
removed
by
an
all-
sufficient sacrifice
;
and
makes it evident
that
no
hell, no
vengeance, no shadows
of
misery
await the believer
in
that
invisible world.
This
makes the christian venture
.into
it
with
a
certain
bold
-
ness,
and
a
becoming presence
of
mind.
The doctrine
of
Christ
shews
us
how
the sting
of death
is
taken
away,
and
calls us
to
fight with
a
vanquished enemy,
a
serpent'
without
a
sting
;
it
gives us
assurance
that
we
shall
rise
again
from the
dust
with bodies
fresher
ancf
fairer, glori-
ous
in
their
frame,.
and their constitution-
immortal
;
for
death
shall
be
no
more.
Exalted
by
so sublime
a
hope,
What is
there
in
death
sufficient to
depress our
spirits,
if
our
faith were but
equal
to this
admirable doctrine
?
The
holy apostles
are
witnesses,
the
noble army of
martyrs
are
witnesses,
and
many a
saint
in
our
day
is a
witness
to
this
truth, and
gives
honour
to this
gospel. How
many
thousands
have met
death,
and
all its
frightful
attendants,
with
a
steady soul, and
a
serene
countenance;
and have
departed
to heaven
with songs
of
praise
upon
their
lips,
a
smile upon
their
face,
and
triumph
in
their
eyes? And
this
was
not
owing
to any
extravagant
flights
of
enthusiasm,
nor
the fires
of
an inflamed fancy,
but
it has been
per-
formed often, and may be done daily
by
the force
of a'
regular
faith,
on
the most
solid and
reasonable
principles;'
for
such
are
the
principles of
the gospel
of
Christ.
SECTIOiN
IV.
Blessings gained
by
the destruction
of
death.
The fourth
and last general
head
of
discourse,
is an
enquiry
into
the
advantages
which
the saints
receive
by
the destruction
of
this last enemy.
This
is
a large
and endless
field,
for it
includes.a
great
part
of
the happiness
of
the
final
heaven.
But
I
shall
attempt
to
mention
briefly a
few
of
the benefits
that
at
tend
my
text,
and that without
a
nice
distinction
of
parti-
culars.
When death
is
destroyed,
we
shall
share
in the
joy
and)